British Columbia Business Skills Immigration Program British Columbia is the westernmost of Canadas provinces. Its capital is Victoria.

British Columbia is Canada's westernmost province and is set between the Pacific Ocean in the west and the magnificent Rocky Mountains in the east. Blessed with breathtaking landscapes, BC is home to a geographical diversity that lends itself to a vast array of activities and adventures. There are mountains to climb, rivers to run, beaches to comb, forests to hike, parks to stroll and warm summer lakes to laze about on. British Columbia has a resource dominated economy, centred on the forestry industry but also with increasing importance in mining. Employment has increased in the construction and retail/service sectors. With its film industry known as Hollywood North, the Vancouver region is the third-largest feature film production location in North America, after Los Angeles and New York City. British Columbia's GDP is the fourth largest in Canada at C$197.93 billion in 2008. GDP per capita stands at C$45,150. How To Get A Visa? REQUIREMENTS Applicants for nomination in the Business Skills category will be required to:
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Should make a personal investment of at least $400,000 CAD to establish or to purchase and expand an eligible business anywhere in British Columbia Create at least three new jobs in the business for Canadians or permanent residents, except when the applicant is applying as a regional Succession Plan Buy-out which reduces this requirement by one job for each existing job to be maintained. Own at least one third (33 1/3%) of the equity of the business. Provide active and on-going participation in the day to day management and direction of the business. Demonstrate that they have: o the skills and experience necessary to establish and operate a commercially viable business in BC o a personal net worth of at least $800,000 CAD obtained from legal sources o sufficient unencumbered personal funds to make the required investment and o a viable business proposal Sign a performance agreement with the Province of British Columbia. Sign a deposit agreement with the Province of British Columbia, if they are seeking a fast track nomination.

Fast Track Option

The fast track option offers immediate nomination for permanent residence. In return, you will be required to make a conditionally refundable $125,000 CAD deposit with the Province of British Columbia. The deposit will be refunded (without interest) when you have met the terms of conditions of your performance agreement and deposit agreement. Principal Applicants and Key Staff Principal applicants in Business Skills category may include one foreign, key staff essential to the proposed business as a co-applicant for nomination, but must still create three jobs for Canadians or permanent residents. Business Succession Plan Buy-out Business Skills applicants who commit to purchase an existing business will have their stipulated job creation requirements reduced by one job for each existing job that is to be maintained for Canadian citizens or permanent residents. These applications will receive priority processing. In addition to meeting the requirements for the business skills category, the following additional requirements must be met. The target business must:

be located outside of the Vancouver metropolitan area and the Abbotsford be operated by the same owner for a minimum of 5 years have employees, other than family members be actively in operation.

The applicant must:

complete an exploratory visit to meet the retiring owners and, where feasible, the local Economic Development Office provide evidence that reasonable efforts have been made to establish a fair market value for the target business operate the business for a minimum of one full year prior to being considered for nomination (or deposit refund, in the case of Fast Track nominees), with long term intentions of continuing to operate the business the succession plan buy-out transaction is to result in a complete change of ownership whereby the purchaser(s) take full control of the business.